Variety of Cuphea plant named ‘Vielav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Cuphea llavea  plant named ‘Vielav’ with large, purple bicolored flowers and an upright growth habit.

Botanical classification: Cuphea llavea.

Varietal denomination: ‘Vielav’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Cupheallavea known by the varietal name ‘Vielav’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands on Jul. 7, 2006. The newvariety has been asexually reproduced via tip cuttings and the firstdate of asexual reproduction was Aug. 15, 2006 in 's Gravenzande, TheNetherlands. The new variety is the result of a planned breeding programcross between unpatented Cuphea llavea plant Seedling C13(female parent)and unpatented Cuphea llavea plant Seedling C5-2 (male parent). Thepurpose of the breeding program was to develop new varieties with biggerflowers and a broad range of color. The new variety exhibits stronggrowth and an upright habit that are similar to both parents, but doeshave a bigger flowers and an improved flower color when compared to bothparents. ‘Vielav’ exhibits similar vigor to Cuphea llavea ‘Tiny Winie’(unpatented and also known as ‘Torpedo’), but has bigger flowers,different flower color, and more upright growth than ‘Tiny Winie’. Thenew variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics and remain true to type throughsuccessive propagations. The following characteristics distinguish‘Vielav’ from other Cuphea llavea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Large flowers;    -   2. Bicolored flowers; and    -   3. Improved upright growth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

-   -   FIG. 1 is a close-up view of the blossoms of the new variety;        and    -   FIG. 2 is a view of an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of a10 week old ‘Vielav’ plant grown inside a greenhouse in a 12 cmcontainer in The Netherlands. The color readings were taken indoorsunder natural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 12 days at about 18° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 16 days at about 18° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 10 weeks in a 12 cm container.-   Rooting habit: Good, spreading.-   Form: Spreading.-   Branching habit: Upright.-   Height: 35–40 cm.-   Plant diameter: 15 cm.-   Vigor: Strong.-   Branching habit: Spreading upright, not much branching.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—18–24 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.5–3 mm.        -   Internode length.—4–6 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth and hairy.        -   Color.—145C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Number per branch.—6–8.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 5.5–6 cm. Width: 2.5–2.7 cm.        -   Shape of leaf.—Oval.        -   Shape of apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of base.—Round.        -   Texture.—Smooth with some hairs.        -   Margin description.—Glossy.        -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: 138A. Lower surface:            138B. Mature leaves: Upper surface: 137A. Lower surface:            138B to 138C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 14–16 mm. Diameter: 2.5–3 mm. Color: 139D.        -   Veins.—Venation type: Alternate. Color: Young leaves: Upper            surface: 139D. Lower surface: 139D. Mature leaves: Upper            surface: 138D. Lower surface: 139C to 139D.

FLOWER

-   Bud:    -   -   Time of description.—2 days before opening.        -   Shape.—Tube.        -   Diameter.—4–6 mm.        -   Length.—20–24 mm.        -   Color.—N170 with 185A hairs.-   Natural flowering season: April–October in The Netherlands.-   Flower type and habit: Single and lobed.-   Number of flowers per lateral branch: 5–7.-   Flower longevity on plant: 7–8 days.-   Flower:    -   -   Diameter.—50 ×45 mm.        -   Height.—25–28 mm.        -   Throat diameter.—12 mm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Actinomorphic; fused petals (lobed).        -   Appearance.—Open flower with a distance between the petals.        -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 6. Length: 15–18 mm. Width: 15 mm.            Shape: Oval. Apex: Rounded. Base: Acuminate. Margin: Smooth.            Texture and appearance: Very weak. Color: When opening:            Upper surface: 75C and N79B. Lower surface: 75C and N79B.            Fully opened: Upper surface: 75B to 75C and 79C. Lower            surface: 75B to 75C and 79C.        -   Throat.—Color: 72B to 72C. Texture: Hairy.        -   Tube color.—N77A and N77B.-   Calyx: No calyx or sepals present.-   Fragrance: None.-   Disease resistance: None observed to date.-   Temperature tolerance: From 1° C. to 45° C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament length.—6–10 mm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1 mm. Color: 195B.        -   Pollen.—Color: 195B. Amount: Minimal.-   Pistils:    -   -   Length.—20 mm.        -   Styles.—Length: 11 mm. Color: 196C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: 196C.-   Seed production: Around 20–30.

1. A new and distinct variety of Cuphea llavea plant named ‘Vielav’substantially as shown and described herein.